BALTIMORE, MD., Oct. 10, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) and Prometric, a trusted provider of market-leading test development and delivery solutions, today announced the renewal of a multi-year framework agreement for the exclusive delivery of computer-based (CBT) and Internet-based testing solutions in the European Union's (EU) staff selection examination process. The services are to be provided under three separate lots. Up to 170,000 computer-based exams are expected to be delivered annually through 2017.
"Over the course of our relationship with Prometric, EPSO has administered more than 500,000 CBT pre-selection exams," said David Bearfield, Director for the European Personnel Selection Office. "Our shared commitment is to ensure that the best qualified candidates are selected for a job opportunity in the European Union."
Under the new four-year agreement, Prometric will continue to support EPSO in evolving the EU's staff selection processes for employment positions in the Institutions of the European Union.
The EPSO-Prometric relationship dates back to 2005, providing reliable and consistent testing services while continuing to transform and evolve to meet the human resources needs of the EU by helping the EPSO to introduce competency based assessment in all the EU 24 languages.
"Prometric recognizes that EPSO is charged with an immense responsibility to validate individuals as qualified for performing highly skilled jobs as representatives of the European Union. Our investments in testing infrastructure and content, and security and global candidate care, keep us focused on delivering the right test to the right candidates at the right time and place," said Michael Brannick, President and CEO for Prometric. We are honored by EPSO's confidence and fully committed to providing seamless testing solutions and responsive candidate services for all test takers seeking careers with the EU."
EPSO is responsible for selecting staff to work for the Institutions and Agencies of the European Union including the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the Court of Justice, the Court of Auditors, the European External Action Service, the Economic and Social Committee, the Committee of the Regions, the European Data Protection Supervisor and the European Ombudsman. Each Institution is then able to recruit staff from a pool of candidates selected by EPSO. EPSO was created on 26th July 2002 and became operational as of 1st January 2003.
About Prometric
Prometric, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ETS, is a trusted and market-leading provider of technology-enabled testing and assessment. Committed to a set of values that get the right test to the right location at the right time and to the right test taker, Prometric supports candidates worldwide who take close to 10 million tests each year. Through innovation, workflow automation and standardization, Prometric advances test development and delivery solutions that are better, faster and at less expense.
Prometric delivers tests flexibly via the Web or by utilizing a robust network of more than 8,000 test centers in more than 160 countries and on behalf of more than 400 clients in the academic, financial, government, healthcare, professional, corporate and information technology markets.
For more information, please visit www.prometric.com.